标签： Guyana

In a significant diplomatic development, the United States has suspended its recently announced travel restrictions targeting nationals from Dominica and Antigua & Barbuda. The decision comes after high-level discussions between Caribbean leaders and U.S. officials, effectively halting a proclamation that would have barred citizens of these nations from entering American territory starting January 1, 2026.

Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed appreciation for the suspension during a national address on state-owned DBS Radio. He confirmed that following productive negotiations with both the U.S. Embassy in Barbados and officials at the State Department in Washington, an agreement was reached to temporarily set aside the controversial immigration policy announced by President Donald Trump on December 16, 2025.

The original proclamation specifically targeted countries offering Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs without residency requirements, which U.S. authorities claimed presented significant challenges for security screening and vetting procedures. Both Dominica and Antigua & Barbuda operate such programs, granting citizenship to foreign investors who make substantial contributions to their socio-economic development.

President Trump’s executive order had argued that these CBI programs could enable individuals from restricted countries to obtain citizenship from Caribbean nations and subsequently apply for U.S. visas, potentially circumventing existing travel bans. The document further expressed concerns about identity concealment and asset hiding through these investment citizenship schemes.

Prime Minister Skerrit assured Dominican citizens that all current visa holders remain eligible to travel to the United States beyond the January 1 deadline. He emphasized his administration’s commitment to continuing collaborative relations with Washington, stating, “We are prepared to continue working with the U.S. on whatever issues they may have, moving forward together as partners.”

Simultaneously, Antigua and Barbuda confirmed receiving similar suspension terms through their Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders. The agreement ensures no revocation of existing visas issued before December 31, 2025, and covers all categories including tourist, business, student, and other nonimmigrant visas. Both nations are now engaged in ongoing discussions with U.S. authorities to establish new biometric data collection systems that will ensure compatibility with American security requirements for future visa applications.

Guyana’s Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has publicly refuted widespread speculation about his health, explicitly denying claims that he is battling cancer. The senior official broke his unusual six-week silence from press engagements to directly address growing public conjecture about his physical condition.

“No! I am not ill. I have not been diagnosed with cancer,” Jagdeo stated emphatically during his December 18, 2025 press conference when questioned by Demerara Waves Online News. The Vice President’s extended absence from his characteristic weekly marathon press briefings—which typically span three to four hours—had fueled rumors throughout November and December that he might be suffering from either prostate or throat cancer.

Despite the circulation of social media conspiracy theories, including one alleging an impersonator named “Delip” had been paid to represent him, Jagdeo affirmed his authentic presence at recent governmental functions. Documentary evidence showed his participation in cabinet meetings, community council gatherings, and the launch of the Christmas village throughout the period of speculation.

The political leader referenced the recent honor of having the US$260 million Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge named after him during its October inauguration. While notably absent from the ceremonial crossing event, Jagdeo maintains President Irfaan Ali’s continued confidence, having been described repeatedly as a key architect of modern Guyana’s development and the President’s trusted “confidante.”

Guyana’s Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has firmly refuted claims that his administration broke a promise to distribute cash grants before Christmas 2025. During a press briefing on Thursday, Jagdeo presented his party’s election manifesto to demonstrate that no specific pre-holiday payout commitment had been made.

The Vice President explained that no funds have been allocated in the Treasury for such disbursements, emphasizing that implementing the cash transfer program would require parliamentary approval and several months of preparation. He recalled that earlier this year, the government needed five months to execute a similar program, which encountered challenges including attempted system exploitation.

Jagdeo characterized President Irfaan Ali’s previous comments about potential Christmas payments as humorous remarks rather than policy commitments. “Jocularly, the President said if you’re good people… and this is what they are building their campaign on,” he stated, referencing opposition claims from We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

The Vice President confirmed that cash grants of GY$100,000 would be distributed following the approval of the 2026 National Budget early next year, with projected costs exceeding GY$60 billion. However, he cautioned citizens against developing dependency on government transfers, emphasizing that “You got to earn too. Cash grants should help supplement what you have.”

Jagdeo outlined broader social programs including soft loans and grants for small business development through a planned US$200 million development bank, financial support for housing programs, and community improvement initiatives. He revealed plans for over GY$800 billion in housing investments for hundreds of thousands of families over the next five years, alongside increased support for children, pensioners, and workers.

In a significant political development, Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, has launched a forceful critique against President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo for allegedly reneging on a key election commitment. The controversy centers on the promised distribution of cash grants to Guyanese citizens during the Christmas season.

During Wednesday night’s address, Mohamed characterized the government’s pre-election assurances of immediate cash payments as a “broken moral contract” rather than merely unfulfilled policy promises. He emphasized that while both President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo had explicitly signaled the payout would occur, the administration subsequently announced the GY$100,000 grants would only be distributed after the 2026 national budget approval early next year.

Mohamed, whose party secured 16 seats in the September 1 general and regional elections to become Guyana’s main opposition force, dismissed the planned amount as “meagre” despite the country’s substantial oil revenues. He asserted the cash grant promise functioned primarily as a “campaign tool, not a guaranteed obligation,” directly referencing the President’s August campaign statement in Eccles suggesting payments would be contingent on proper behavior.

The political confrontation extends beyond the cash grant controversy. Mohamed also criticized President Ali for commencing his address 35 minutes late and for delivering his five-year policy agenda exclusively to diplomats and government officials rather than addressing Parliament and opposition lawmakers.

Complicating matters further, Mohamed’s potential ascension to Opposition Leader remains pending as National Assembly Speaker Manzoor Nadir has yet to convene opposition parliamentarians for the necessary election. Attorney General Anil Nandlall has publicly opposed Mohamed assuming the role, citing ongoing extradition proceedings initiated by the United States regarding alleged financial crimes connected to Mohamed’s gold trading business and luxury car importation activities.

The Alliance for National Unity (APNU), holding 12 parliamentary seats, has concurrently demanded a larger GY$150,000 cash grant, citing the Finance Ministry’s mid-year economic report as evidence of sufficient available funds. APNU argues this enhanced amount would better cushion citizens against rising living costs and stimulate business activity during the holiday season.

Guyana’s political opposition has launched fierce criticism against President Irfaan Ali for unveiling his administration’s five-year policy agenda outside the traditional parliamentary framework. The move, occurring on December 17, 2025, has sparked concerns about democratic erosion and institutional bypass.

Forward Guyana Movement Leader Amanza Walton-Desir challenged the diplomatic community’s apparent acquiescence to this departure from established parliamentary practice. She emphasized that the address conventionally belongs within parliamentary proceedings, properly recorded in official Hansard records regardless of opposition participation.

The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of parliamentary paralysis, with the legislature currently lacking an officially recognized opposition leader. This institutional vacuum has complicated constitutional norms and raised questions about democratic safeguards.

APNU Parliamentarian Sherod Duncan characterized the external announcement as a ‘democratic red flag,’ noting the symbolic significance of the President choosing to present his vision outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre rather than within the parliamentary chamber. Duncan interpreted this as a deliberate avoidance of legislative scrutiny and a troubling treatment of democratic institutions as optional.

Central to the controversy is the status of Azruddin Mohamed, whose potential election as opposition leader remains pending. Mohamed and his father face extradition proceedings to the United States for alleged financial crimes, creating additional complications for Guyana’s political landscape.

Both opposition figures emphasized that the exclusion of elected representatives from a supposedly national agenda presentation demonstrates intentional marginalization rather than accidental oversight. They pledged to subject the government’s plan to rigorous parliamentary examination through appropriate channels.

The opposition leaders called for renewed commitment to transparent governance, open debate, and democratic accountability, insisting that Guyana’s future should be shaped through inclusive processes rather than unilateral announcements outside locked parliamentary doors.